Wildflowers in San Juan Mountians?

[MikeH]

I have some time in late June or early July to visit the San Juan Mountains. Does anyone know, or can someone guess, when the best time to go is? From what I've seen, which is sketchy, the 1st week in July seems to be the best bet.

I think I want to drive the Million Dollar Highway from south-to-north to stay on the "inside?"

Thanks for any info.

[xkaes]

It depends on how high you plan on going. It's been a pretty wet winter in the Mountains. For example, Trail Ridge Road, which is normally open before Memorial Day, just opened yesterday. And if you go up there in four weeks, there will be more snow than flowers. Usually mid-July is a better bet for alpine flowers, maybe a little later this year. FYI, there are still ski areas open and MANY campgrounds are still closed! You need to determine if the trails are open -- the National Forest Service can help there, but then most flowers need time to grow and bloom. SO when you find flowers, try to stay around that elevation.

Snow Lily in Mt. Zirkel Wilderness

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[MikeH]

Thanks for the info. BTW, nice pix. Now I know where the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness is, along with the "Routt Divide Blowdown." :-) I've started to partially retire, so Southwestern Colorado, from Southern California, is a do-able 4 day trip. Looks like I need to plan time in a few years to get to Northern Colorado.

[xkaes]

Don't leave out Wyoming. The Wind River range are the most beautiful mountains between Canada and the Andes. And then there's Yellowstone, and the Big Horn mountains, and Grand Teton National Park, and.......

[xkaes]

so Southwestern Colorado, from Southern California, is a do-able 4 day trip.

I would take 4 WEEKS -- one in the Grand Canyon, one in Zion, one in Arches, one in Canyonlands, one in Escalante/Golden Staircase, one in Capitol Reef, one in the San Rafael reef, one in.... Did I say WEEKS? I meant MONTHS!!!

[David Lobato]

For the San Juan Mountains mid-late July is best due to the high elevations there. Look up Yankee Boy Basin, Dallas Divide, Million Dollar Highway, La Plata Canyon, Echo Basin above Mancos, the area around Rico, the Meadows near Dunton, Weminuche Wilderness, Telluride, etc.

[xkaes]

If you want to get away from the crowds -- there WILL be crowds, mostly Californians!:

#1 -- stay away from 14ers and trails that go up them

#2 -- stay away from any place listed in a guide book

#3 -- try the Uncompaghre Wilderness (some sources refer to it by its old name, Big Blue Wilderness)

#4 -- stay away from 14ers and trails that go up them

[xkaes]

Here's a shot from the just opened Trail Ridge road. It's going to be a while for any flowers to show up -- or any trail heads for that matter.

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[MikeH]

Your responses are great! Thanks, everyone.

I do taxes and small business stuff, and I'm in the middle of transferring my personal tax clients to someone else. So, it's difficult to get away for more than 4 days at a time, at least for the next 1/2 year or so. I have a tax training class in Las Vegas in December, so I'll probably "scout" Zion when I'm there.

Again, Thanks!

[xkaes]

More tips. First, stay away from the Durango Silverton Railroad and Chicago Basin. I'm sure it/them will be highly suggested to you. It is a beautiful area, but you will NEVER get a seat on the railroad at this point (it is ONLY accessible by train) and the place is busier than Yosemite Valley. Also avoid the Continental Divide Trail which is busier than Grand Central Station -- after the snow melts. Have at least some general ideas about where you want to go (ALWAYS have a PLAN B). Before you arrive, call/email the area (National Park, Forest, BLM, etc.) and ask where the snow level is. Ask if the trail(s) you plan on hiking are open. Stay well below the snow level if you want flowers. If you are going into a wilderness area there will probably be a "backcountry office/ranger" that you should contact. Depending on where you are camping you might need a permit -- and these might be limited to a small number. No kidding. Lastly, if you run into any nasty people, just say "HELLO" -- more likely than not, they are from California (or recent transplants).

[xkaes]

The State has a new web service with maps and info on the 38,000 miles of trails in Colorado. It is at:

http://cpw.state.co.us/cts

I cannot provide a review as I have not used it since most of my backpacking & photography is off-trail. I do this not only to get to places that others have not photographed, but to avoid the too numerous questions, like, "Is that a camera?" or "Are you Ansel Adams?" -- while I am in the middle of mental calculations.

[Eric Biggerstaff]

Heck, rent a 4 wheel drive from Lake City and head over Engineer Pass for a day, should be wonderful in July. We had a lot of late season snow but run off will be hitting very soon.

[xkaes]

I hope you don't mind traffic jams.

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[Eric Biggerstaff]

Might not be too bad during the week, weekends can be nuts but even then you can find nice spots. At least, I have always been able to. Of course, as we live here, we can pick and choose when we go (which is nice).

[bloodhoundbob]

More tips. First, stay away from the Durango Silverton Railroad and Chicago Basin. I'm sure it/them will be highly suggested to you. It is a beautiful area, but you will NEVER get a seat on the railroad at this point (it is ONLY accessible by train) and the place is busier than Yosemite Valley. Also avoid the Continental Divide Trail which is busier than Grand Central Station -- after the snow melts. Have at least some general ideas about where you want to go (ALWAYS have a PLAN B). Before you arrive, call/email the area (National Park, Forest, BLM, etc.) and ask where the snow level is. Ask if the trail(s) you plan on hiking are open. Stay well below the snow level if you want flowers. If you are going into a wilderness area there will probably be a "backcountry office/ranger" that you should contact. Depending on where you are camping you might need a permit -- and these might be limited to a small number. No kidding. Lastly, if you run into any nasty people, just say "HELLO" -- more likely than not, they are from California (or recent transplants).

My ex and I stayed in the Gunnison area about 15 summers while we 4-wheeled in the San Juans. We loved the town of Gunnison so much that we subscribed to the local paper. The main complaints to the editor that we read were concerning the people from Texas buying up and elevating real estate prices so much that the locals were priced out of the market if they wanted to upgrade. No surprise to me, as license plates from Texas were everywhere.

[xkaes]

EAST of the Divide it's the Texas plates that stand out. On the WEST divide, it's the Californian plates that predominate. These are two of the reasons why I prefect Wyoming and New Mexico. There, you are more likely to see antelope and road runners.

It's gotten so intense in Colorado that there are now ads on TV for empty land in Wyoming -- only $75,000 for 30 acres of flat barren sage brush. What a deal! They sell the parcels at less than 35 acres because at over 35 acres the owners get the water rights.

[David Lobato]

I will be in Colorado in late July thru early August and am thinking of the Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass loop. And during the week. Are there places to camp on the National Forest lands?

[xkaes]

Are there places to camp on the National Forest lands?

There are a ton of places to camp. First, are the official Forest Service or BLM campgrounds. There's a LOT of BLM land in the San Juans.

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They normally charge a fee and you usually get some sort of service, such as a flat place for a tent, a picnic table, a fireplace pit, RV electricity, water, an outhouse, etc. Fees vary depending on the services that are provided, and they always tend to fill up fast. You can also camp anywhere on Forest Service or BLM land, on your own, but there are restrictions, such as being 1/4 mile away from a road, 100 feet from any stream or trail, campfire restrictions, etc. These vary from location to location. Just check with the ranger station if that's how you want to go.